A resilient bioeconomy post Executive Order 14081

The recent revocation of Executive Order 14081 (Advancing Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Innovation for a Sustainable, Safe, and Secure American Bioeconomy) by President Donald Trump’s administration marks a significant shift in the United States’ federal approach to biotechnology and biomanufacturing. While this reflects a change in US policy priorities and direction, it does not diminish the huge potential role these technologies can play in addressing major global challenges.

Applications of biotechnology and biomanufacturing are evolving rapidly. Established companies and a host of innovative start-ups are developing products and processes capable of significantly combating issues such as climate change, food security, and the achievement of sustainable economic growth. These challenges are not the concern of a single nation – they are shared across borders and warrant continued international focus and collaboration. 

While strategy and policy may evolve country by country, what must remain constant is a collective ambition to build sustainable and secure bioeconomies. It is in this spirit of shared responsibility that countries, research institutions, and innovation ecosystems can continue to work together to advance technologies that benefit people and planet alike.

What Executive Order 14081 represented

Executive Order 14081, introduced in 2022, set out a bold strategy for the United States to be the global leader in biotechnology and biomanufacturing. It aimed to coordinate investment across health, climate, food security, and US national defence — strengthening R&D, expanding biomanufacturing capacity, building a skilled workforce, and securing biological data and IP. It also prioritised biosafety, ethical development, and regulatory clarity.

Its recent revocation has created a level of uncertainty. While innovation will inevitably continue in the US and be supported by their strong innovation ecosystem, the absence of federal coordination could slow progress and leave some gaps in the push for their sustainable, secure bioeconomy.

The Executive Order was considered by many as being more than policy — it was a signal of intent, and its withdrawal may prompt questions as to where in the world leadership in this space will now emerge.

The importance of international collaboration

The revocation of Executive Order 14081 comes at a time when the need for global collaboration in biotechnology and biomanufacturing is as vital as ever. Challenges such as climate change, food insecurity, and supply chain fragility do not respect borders. Efforts to combat them will be most effective if they can rely on open innovation, data sharing, shared access to infrastructure, and coordinated international standards.

National policy directions may change over time, but a robust and healthy global bioeconomy must be built on enduring foundations of international cooperation. The UK has long been a committed partner to the US in scientific research, and there is a clear opportunity for transatlantic alliances to continue shaping this future together.

While the revocation of the Executive Order may leave some policy coordination gaps, it would be speculative to suggest this creates a void that others must rush to fill. The United States retains world class public and private infrastructure, deep expertise, strong private investment, and capabilities to continue advancing its biotechnology and biomanufacturing sectors. However, the evolving landscape does present an opportunity for the UK to step forward as a trusted partner offering complementary strengths and working alongside US innovators to help maintain global momentum. With shared values around safety, equity, and ethical biotechnology, the two nations are well placed to drive meaningful progress that benefits their own economies and the broader international community.

The UK’s strengths in biotechnology and biomanufacturing

The UK has a strong history in biotechnology. Boasting world leading science excellence and significant infrastructure to support scale up and commercialisation of new products developed using Engineering Biology, the UK continues to play a committed and significant role in advancing the global bioeconomy.

This capability is underpinned by a supportive ecosystem that includes public funding bodies such as UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and Innovate UK, along with a growing number of national initiatives focused on bio-based innovation and sustainable manufacturing. Collectively, these entities help drive the translation of research into real-world solutions.

At the heart of this landscape, CPI acts as a convenor and enabler — supporting and bringing together academia, industry, and government to accelerate innovation across multiple sectors. By supporting process development and scale-up, and fostering collaboration, CPI helps deliver technologies and products that can serve both national and international markets.

CPI’s role: Supporting innovation from ideation through to commercialisation

CPI accelerates the development, scale up and commercialisation of deep tech and sustainable manufacturing solutions — helping innovators bring biotechnology and biomanufacturing solutions to life. 

From accelerating early-stage innovation to supporting sustainable practices in food, pharmaceuticals, and materials, CPI provides the infrastructure and expertise needed to turn ideas into viable, real-world applications. CPI’s assets include the National Industrial Biotechnology Facility and specialist teams possessing extensive industry experience spanning all phases of R&D.

Importantly, CPI’s partnerships are not limited to the UK. CPI have collaborated with international organisations to co-develop technologies and products that deliver societal and environmental benefits far beyond national borders. Whether enabling novel protein production methods or supporting bio-based alternatives to petrochemicals, focus is on helping innovation reach its full potential.

In a changing global landscape, CPI remains a trusted, collaborative partner — working with others to create a resilient and sustainable bioeconomy.

Case study: Scaling a spider-inspired biopesticide

CPI worked with a UK based academic institution to scale up the production of a novel biopesticide, inspired by venom proteins found in the tube-web spider. The biopesticide was designed to selectively target crop pests without harming pollinators or other beneficial species — supporting a more sustainable approach to agriculture.

The academic institution’s team had successfully cloned the venom peptide and coupled it to a biomolecule that allows absorption through an insect’s gut. CPI applied its expertise in the yeast Pichia pastoris, creating a ​“plug-and-play” fermentation system and scaling the process from 5L to over 3,500L. A downstream recovery and concentration process was also developed to ensure consistent yield and quality.

The result was the successful production of venom fusion protein at a volume suitable for greenhouse toxicity trials. The collaboration also created a pilot-scale platform for the production of other fusion proteins in future.

If field trials are successful, this biopesticide could offer an environmentally responsible alternative to traditional pesticides — reducing harm to pollinators, humans, and other wildlife while improving food security.

Collaboration over competition - a shared global opportunity

Biotechnology and biomanufacturing are far more likely to thrive if built on collective action rather than fragmented efforts. As nations adapt their strategies, a significant level of consistency should be preserved, ensuring that critical innovations reach global markets and serve shared challenges like decarbonisation, net zero, and health resilience.

The UK is committed to supporting this vision. Through organisations like CPI, support is provided to innovators wherever they are based, via the provision of expertise, infrastructure, and collaboration required to develop and scale novel products.

The UK’s infrastructure and expertise has potential to augment the ecosystem accessible by organisations operating in USA, by adding complementary expertise, capabilities and capacity. Therefore, the UK’s greatest opportunity coming from the revocation of the Executive Order, may not be attempting to fill a speculative void but rather aiming to partner with and complement the existing US ecosystem to help maintain global momentum in biotechnology and biomanufacturing.

Looking ahead

As the world faces urgent environmental and societal challenges, the bioeconomy offers one of our most promising routes to sustainable progress. Turning potential into real impact; however, demands long-term commitment, consistency and collaboration between a host of stakeholders. CPI remains dedicated to playing a major role in this mission and are looking forward to working with partners worldwide to ensure that biotechnology continues to deliver solutions that are safe, ethical, and transformative — for people, planet, and prosperity.